Material breaking apparatus



June 15, 1937.'

F. H. ARMSTRONG MATERIAL BREAKING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1935 `.V 1 "4, v. l..

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Patented June V15, 1937 UNITED STATES MATERIAL BREAKING APPARATUS Frank H. Armstrong, Michigan City, 1nd., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Safety Mining Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application April 18, 1935, Serial No. 17,081

10 Claims. (Cl. 285-143) This invention relates to material-breaking apparatus, and more particularly to an improved detachable connection for the supply line of a material-breaking shell of the type wherein highly compressed gas is employed as a material-breaking medium.

An object of this invention is to provide an" improved detachable connection fora compressed gas supply line. Another object is to provide an improved detachable connection wherein the pressure of the gas in the supply line is employed for maintaining an eiective seal between the separable parts. Yet another object is to pro- -vide an improved quick detachable connection for a compressedl gas supply line which may be readily releasedv while, when in closed position, maintaining an effective seal between the separable parts. A still further object is to provide an improved detachable connection between the 1 .20 pipe sectionsA of the high pressure gas supply line for a,material-breaking shell of the type wherein highly compressed gas is employed as a materialbreaking medium, the separable parts being maintained tightly sealed by the pressureof the 5 gas in the line durng'ow of gas to the shell. These and other objects and advantages oi the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully y appear.

In the accompanying drawing therev is shown n for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume `in practice.

In this drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the improved material-breaking apparatus 5in operative relation with respect to the material to be broken down,

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the illustrative form of the improved quick detachable connection and4 its associated material- .m breaking shell,

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the improved detachable connection, showing the parts in closed relation,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 45 4--4 of Fig. 2, l

Fig. 5 is a view showing the parts in releasedl position with the gas supply line disconnected therefrom Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 50 5 5 oi Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a detailv View showing the attaching end of the gas supply line. l

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention the improved quick detachable connection, L3 generally designated I, is vshown associated with the gas supply line 2 of a material-breaking shell, Vgenerally designated 3, of the type wherein highly compressed gas is employed as a materialbreaking medium.

The gas shell 3 is of the same general character as that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 718,175, led March 30, 1934, shown in Fig. 12, and comprises a tubular container 4 having a chamber 5 for receiving a charge of material-breaking pressure. Threadedly secured within the inner end `of this container is a discharge cap 6 having an `axial discharge orifice l communicable .with the pressure chamber 5 and connected through a series of radial discharge openings 8 with the shell exterior. Threadedly secured within the outer end of the container 4 is a control cap 9 having a control chamber-I0 containing a reciprocable control piston II. The piston rod I2 of the control piston extends axially within the pressure chamber 5 and has secured to its inner end a control valve I3 for closing the communication of the discharge orice 1 with the pressure chamber 5 during charging of the latter. Positioned betweenA the inner end of the control cap 9 and an internal annular shoulder I4 formed within the container, is a heavy steel plate or disc I5 to which is secured ahat leather I6 surrounding and adapted to seal on the exterior surface of the valve rod|2 which passes therethrough. The control piston II is in this instance in the form of a steel plunger I1 having secured thereto a cup leather I8, the cup leather held in position on the plunger by a keeper I9 threaded on the piston rod. A suitable-ball check valve 20 with check spring 2| is provided in' the plunger I1 as a means for permitting the iiow of high pressure gas from the control chamber I0 at the outer side of the control piston into the main chamber 5 of the shell, but preventing flow in the reverse direction, thischeck valve controlling the ow of pressure uid through an axial passage 22 formed in the control rod and connected byl radial passages 23 with the pressure -chamber 5. A supply line pipe section 24 is secured within the control cap 9 and is connected by an axial passage 25 with the conl trol chamber I0 at the outer yside of the control piston, and this supply connection communicates through the connection I and the pipe section 2 with a suitable source of hi'gh pressure gas. The'supply pipe section 24 permits the introduction of high pressure gas into the control chamber I0 at the outer side of the control piston and this results in axial movement of the gas past the piston 3i.

valve and plunger assembly to bring the valve Il into iirm sealing engagement with the end of the discharge cap i to close communication of the discharge oriilce 1 with the pressure chamber 5. At the same time the high pressure gas flows from-the control chamber I0, past the check valve, 2Ii ,through the passages 22 and 23 into the pressure chamber l. It is important to note that as the pressure builds up in the main pressure chamber 9, the high pressure gas is permitted to escape from the main chamber outwardly along the valve rod I2 into the space immediately at the inner side oi.' the plunger I1, the hat leather Il functioning merely as a check valve under these circumstances. In other words, the pressure of the charge in chamber 5 passing along the valve rod I2 tends to expand the hat leather from sealing engagement with the rod, thus permitting the passage of high pressure gas into the control chamber I0 between the disc I 5 and the inner side oi the control piston II. It w'ill be observed, however, that reversal of ilow can not occur when the -pressure in the control chamber I9 at the outer side of the control piston falls below the pressure trapped in the space mentioned at the inner side oi the control piston. When aJcharge of desired value has been introduced into the main pressure chamber 5, the discharge is effected by venting the supply pipe 24 in a suitable manner to theatmosphere. 'Ihis results immediately in the lowering of the pressure in the control chamber Il! at the outer side -of the con-I trol piston, and bearing in mind that the pressure 4trapped in the space immediatelyat the inner side oi' the plunger is the same as that of the charge introduced into the pressure chamber I, itis apparent that this reduction oi pressure in the chamber Il immediately results in axial movement of the valve and plunger assembly toward the left in Fig. 2. 'Ihe initial opening of the release valve I3 naturally results in an immediate and extremely rapid drop in pressure within the pressure chamber l, but it will be appreciated that the. pressure trapped between the plate I5 and the inner side of the control piston will be maintained for a while, and so reclosure oi' the main discharge valve will be prevented. Thus, the compressed gas trapped in the control chamber at the inner side of the control piston serves to move positively the valve and plunger assembly toward open position and to maintain it in that position.

Now, referring to the -improved detachable connection I, it will be noted that the same herein is arranged between the supply pipe sections 2 and 24. and comprises a casing 21 having a bore 29 in which is slidably mounted a reciprocable cylinder 29. Contained in the bore 39 of vthe cylinder 29 is a stationary piston 3|, herein formed integral with the detachable head 32 of the casing 21, and this piston carries a cup packing 33 for preventing leakage oi' high pressure The inner terminal of the supply connection 2 is flared at 34 and has loosely mounted thereon 'a washer 35. The outer end oi' the casing is slotted at 39 to permit lateral insertion o1' the terminal end of the pipe section 2 and the washer 3l within the bore 29 of the casing 21 at the outer side o! the cylinder 29 in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the inner wall oi' the casing is recessedat 31 for receiving the washer 39. The outer surface of the cylinder 29 is provided with a conical projection 32 adapted to iit within the iiared end o'i' the pipe 2l, past the ball check section 2, and when thev parts are in closed poaid Ylongitudinal slot 39 in the ycasing 21, are rodlike handles ior facilitating manual movement of the cylinder 29 in the casing 21. An axial passage 4I connects the interior of the pipe section 2 with the bore 30 at the outer side of the piston 3|, while formed axially within the piston 3i is an axial passage 42 for connecting the bore 30 with the pipe section 24, the latter being threadedly secured at 43withln the casing head 32.

In Fig. 1 the material-breaking shell 3 is shown positioned in a drill hole A formed in the material to be broken down, the drill hole being located, in this instance, above a horizontal kerl B cut in the material at'the bottom of the mine wall. After the shell has been so positioned, with the supply pipe section 24 projecting outwardly from the drill hole, the hole may be suitably tamped at C. The teminal end oi the supply connection 2 and the washer 35 are then inserted laterally'through the slot 3l in the casing 21 of the detachable' connection i, and the operator grasps the handles 40 to move the cylinder 29 outwardly to bring the nose 39 into the ilared end of ther tubing 2 and to press the washer 39 into the recess 31 in the casing in the manner shown in Fig. l3. High prsure gas is then admitted to the supply pipe section 2. the gas owing throughfthe terminal end of the pipe section 2, through the axial passage 4I yin the cylinder 29, to the bore 3l at the outer side of the piston 3I, the high pressure gas acting on the outer end area of the bore 39 to hold the cylinder` 29 tightly in`= the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby maintaining the flared end 34 of the pipe section 2 tightly clamped in sealing engagement between the washer 3i and projection 39. High preure gas ilows from the bore 39 through axial passage 42, pipe section 24, axial passage valve 29, and through passages 22 and 23 to the main pressure chamber I of the shell, the high pressure gas acting on the outer pressure area of the control piston to maintain the pressure release valve I3 tightly closed. When it is desired to eilect release of the material-breaking pressure from the chamber 5, the supply of high pressure gas to the connection 2 is cut oil? and the pipe section 2 suitably vented to atmosphere: and as a result the pressure in the axial paages 4I, 42, supply connection 24 and the control vchamber Il at the outer side of the control piston is substantially reduced. The pressure in the control chamber III atthe inner side of the control piston acting against the opposing reduced pressure eilects sudden movement o! the plunger and valve assembly toward the lettin Fig. 2, .thereby opening wide the communication of the discharge oritioe 1 with the pressure chamber 9; and as a result the charge of pressure in the chamber 5 is suddenly released into the material to be .broken down.' After the material has beenbroken down,

then be readily moved laterally through the` s1'ot3l from the casing 21.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved detachable connection is provided for the supply line of a material-breaking shell of the type wherein a high pressure ,gas is employed as a material-breaking. medium, the improved connection having embodied therein separable connections maintained sealed by the' pressure of the gas in the line, and readily separable at will. It will be further noted that the improved detachable connection is of an extremely simple and rugged structure well adapted towithstand the high pressures encountered, comprising but a relatively few component parts. These and other uses' and advantages o the improved material-breaking apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specically described one form which my invention may as sume'in practice, it will be understood that this y form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim yas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe coupling through which a uid un-V der high pressure iiows comprising a casing to which one pipe section is secured, and having a chamber for receiving the ared terminal end of the other pipe section, and a plunger contained in said casing subjected to the high fluid pressure within the coupling for forcing the plunger toward and having a conical projection adapted to fit within the ared end of said pipe for' maintaining a tightsealing engagement between said pipe sections.

2. A pipe coupling comprising a casing to which one pipe section is secured, and having a chamber for receiving the ared terminal end of the other pipe section, and a plunger contained in said casing and having a conical projection adapted to iit within the iiared end of said pipe section for maintaining a tight sealing engagement between said pipe sections, said plunger actuated by the pressure of the fluid owing through said pipe sections, and having formed therein a bore through which the pressure ilows, a stationary piston secured to the casing and projecting within said bore, and packing means between said piston and the wall of said plunger bore subjected to the pressure of the fluid in said ilO bore for maintaining a fiuid tight seal.

3. A quick detachable connection for a high pressure gas line having separable pipe sections comprising a hollow casing having a slotted wall, a piston xedly connected to one pipe section and to the casing to project into the interior of the latter, an enlargement formed on the other pipe section insertable into said casing through said slot, a plunger Aslid'able on said piston and movable by the pressure in the line to clamp and seal 'the enlargement within the casing during gas ow, and packing means engaging the piston and plunger and subjected to the high pressure of the line for effecting a gas tight seal between the piston and plunger.

4. A quick detachable connection for a high pressure gas line having separable pipe sections comprising a hollow casing having a slotted wall, a piston xedly connected to one pipe section and to the casing to project into the interior of the latter, an enlargement formed on the other pipe section insertable into said casing through said slot, a plunger slidable on said piston and movable by the pressure in `the line to clamp and seal the enlargement within the casing during gas ow, and means for manually actuating said plunger upon discontinuation of said gas iiow to disengage it from the said enlargement while the latter is still inserted in the casing.

5. A 'quick detachablev connection for a high pressure gas line having separable pipe sections comprising a hollow casing having a slotted wall, a piston fixedly connected to one pipe section and to the casing to project into the interior of the latter, a dared end formed on the other pipe section and insertable into said casing through said slot, and means for clamping said ared end in tight sealing. engagement Within said casing comprising a. washer engaging one side of said flared end, and a plunger slidable on said piston and 'movable by the pressure in the line into engagement with the other side of said flared end, and packing means engaging the piston and plunger and subjected to the high pressure of the line for eiecting a gas tight seal between the piston `and to the casing to project into the interior of the latter, a dared end formed on the other pipe section and insertable into said casing through said slot, and meansfor clamping said flared end in ltight sealing engagement within said casing i comprising a washer engaging one side of said flared end, and a plunger slidable on said piston and movable by the pressure in the'line into engagement with the other side of said iiared end,l

said flared pipe end, washer, and plunger having mating conical surfaces, and packing means engaging the piston and plunger and subjected to the high pressure of the line for effecting a gas tight seal between the piston and plunger.

7.'A quick detachable connection for a high pressure gas line having separable Vpipe sectionsk comprising a hollow casing having a slotted wall, means for connecting one pipe section to the hollow casing, a flared end formed on the other pipe section and insertable into said casing through said slot, 'and means operated by the pressure in the line for entirely enclosing and tightly clamping the ared pipe end to seal the same within said casing.

8. A quick detachable connection for a high pressureI gas line' having separable pipe sections comprising a hollow casing having a slotted wall, means vfor connecting one pipe Section to the hollowcasing, a flared end formed on the other pipe section and insertable into said casing through said slot, means operated by the pressure in the line for entirely enclosing and tightly clamping the flared pipe end to seal the same within said casing, and manually operable means for breaking said seal upon discontinuation of said gas flow.

9. A quick detachable connection for a high vpressure gas line having separable pipe sections comprising a hollow casing having a slotted wall, a piston flxedly connected to one pipe section and vto the casing to project into the interior of the latter, a flared end formed on the other pipe section and insertable in said casing through said slot, and means operated by the pressure in the line for entirely enclosing and tightly clamping` the flared pipe end to seal the same within said casing, said meansincluding a plunger slidable largement, said pipe enlargement and washer being insertable into the casing through laid slot and poeitioned'with the washer seated in said recess. and -a plungermoved by the pressure in the line into engagement with the opposite face ot the pipe enlargement to tightly seal the pipe section.

said-washer and plunger being shaped to entirelyV enclose the pipe enlargement.

. FRANK H. ARMSTRONG. 

